sanctum sanctorum

proper noun

The Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple.

Similar
garbhagrihasanctumholy of holies
OriginLatin sānctum sānctōrum ← Biblical Hebrew קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים →
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Meanings

proper noun
  1. formalThe Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple.
nounsanctum sanctorum (plural sancta sanctorum or sanctum sanctorums)

plural sancta sanctorum · plural sanctum sanctorums

  1. HinduismJainismformalBuddhismSynonym of garbhagriha.

    Synonyms: garbhagriha

  2. formalhumorousA person's most private retreat or sanctuary.

    Mdlle Reuter turned her eye laterally on me, to ascertain, probably, whether I was collected enough to be ushered into her sanctum sanctorum.

    1864, Charlotte Bronte, The Professor

Synonyms & antonyms

nounSynonym of garbhagriha.

Similar
garbhagriha

More synonyms by meaning

nouna place of inviolable privacy

Similar
sanctum
Broader
retreat

noun(Judaism) sanctuary comprised of the innermost chamber of the Tabernacle in the temple of Solomon where the Ark of the Covenant was kept

Similar
holy of holies
Broader
sanctuary
Also see
garbhagrihaholy of holiessanctum

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Biblical Hebrewקֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים
  2. Latinsānctum
  3. Latinsānctum sānctōrum“holy of holies”
  4. Englishsanctum sanctorum

From Latin sānctum sānctōrum (“holy of holies”), from Latin sānctum, neuter of sānctus (“holy”), and its genitive plural form sanctōrum (“of holies”); a translation of Biblical Hebrew קֹדֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁים (Qṓḏeš HaqQŏḏāšîm).

More words from Latin, Biblical Hebrew

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian светая светих
  • светая светих (svetaja svetih)Holy of Holies
Dutch Heilige der Heiligen
  • Heilige der HeiligenHoly of Holies
Finnish kaikkein pyhin
  • kaikkein pyhinHoly of Holies
French saint des saints
  • saint des saintsHoly of Holies
German Allerheiligste
  • AllerheiligsteHoly of Holies
Japanese 至聖所
  • 至聖所 (shiseijo)Holy of Holies
Latin sānctum sānctōrum
  • sānctum sānctōrumHoly of Holies
Polish sanctum sanctorum
  • sanctum sanctorumHoly of Holies
Russian свята́я святы́х, убе́жище
  • свята́я святы́х (svjatája svjatýx)Holy of Holies
  • убе́жище (ubéžišče)person's sanctuary
Spanish sanctasanctórum, sanctasanctórum
  • sanctasanctórumHoly of Holies
  • sanctasanctórumperson's sanctuary
Cite this entry
APA

sanctum sanctorum. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctum%20sanctorum

MLA

“sanctum sanctorum.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctum%20sanctorum. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “sanctum sanctorum,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/sanctum%20sanctorum.

Source: sanctum sanctorum on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.